Brian Boyle

Boyle won the Bill Masterton Trophy last season as the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey, overcoming a battle with leukemia to suit up for 69 games with the Devils. New Jersey found a niche for the 6-foot-6 center on the power play, parking him in front of the net as a screen. Thanks to this strategy, Boyle scored a career-high five of his 13 goals last season with the extra man. Boyle's brave battle should continue in a bottom-six role this year, though the 33-year-old veteran's value is limited for fantasy purposes considering he's only exceeded 26 points once.

Embarking on his first season in New Jersey after coming over from Toronto in the offseason, Boyle isn't a great skater and is less physical than you'd expect from a 6-foot-6 behemoth. However, he'll do whatever is asked, including blocking shots, playing on the penalty kill or power play and using his body to box out opponents. He's coming off a combined 25 points between Tampa and Toronto in 2016-17, but he'll likely play a bigger role in New Jersey's. don't be surprised to see a 30-point season for Boyle, but that will still keep him safely on the waiver wire in most formats.

Boyle is a 6-foot-6, 245-pound center whose life changed (for the better) in the summer of 2010 when his skating went from bumbling and stumbling to sleek and powerful. OK, maybe not sleek – it's hard for a guy that big to be sleek. But Boyle's new stride – courtesy of former figure skater Barbara Underhill – has turned him into a dangerous, fourth-line penalty killer who also chips in 25 points a season. He won't give you PIMs, which is kinda sad for a guy of his size. But he will deliver 60-PIM, 100-plus hits and 100-plus shots to go with those 25 goal-heavy points. There's room for Boyle in leagues that focus on special teams. But he's better left on the wire in most other formats.

Boyle might just be one of the most effective fourth-liners in the NHL. He can chew up minutes and the opposition, too, but he won't deliver you much in traditional fantasy formats - not even in penalty minutes despite his size. He does, however, win a lot of faceoffs, lay a lot of hits, and kill a lot of penalties. Expect about 20 points, 60 PIMs and 160 hits; leave him on the waiver wire unless he goes on a streak.

Boyle was listed as a healthy scratch for numerous games last season by former head coach John Tortorella. Between the hiring of new head coach Alain Vigneault and the signing of experienced center Dominic Moore, Boyle will reportedly see more ice time as a winger. It is believed that the 6-7 forward could bounce back from a silent (five points in 38 games) campaign last season in the wing slot. Depending on the depth and format of your league, Boyle may not get drafted. Look for early signs of life, if he gets playing time he could have value in Vigneault's offense, so keep him on your watch list.

While he's not the team's flashiest players, Boyle has made a name for himself on this Rangers' squad after playing all 82 games the past two seasons. The gritty 27-year-old will likely center the Blueshirts' fourth line and look to return to the 20-goal plateau that he reached in 2010-2011. His totals of 11 goals and 15 assists last season won't help owners in anything but the deepest of leagues, but the former first-round pick has the potential to provide some value if he can manage to improve upon his 15 minutes of ice time per-game from last season.

Boyle worked on his skating ahead of last season and it paid huge dividends for the Blueshirts and fantasy owners alike. His six-point campaign back in 2009-10 left so much to be desired, yet the 26-year-old busted out with 21 goals and 14 assists this past year. Another positive was that Boyle played the whole 82-game schedule in a season where the Rangers were largely decimated by injuries. At 6-foot-7, Boyle is a monster on the ice, but he still has room to expand his game, particularly on the power play where, in 2010-11, he averaged just 0:48 of ice time. Knowing that he has to prove the past campaign was no fluke, Boyle will be a solid selection in deep fantasy leagues.

At 6-foot-7, 244 pounds, the Rangers have a huge player in Boyle. Unfortunately, in the NHL, he's been unable to transfer his scoring touch from successful campaigns with Boston College and the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL. Even worse, the hefty center battled ankle problems late last season. Avoid him in 2010-11.

Boyle played just 28 games for the Kings last year, but spent the rest of the season in the AHL. He'll likely be in the minors for most of the season for the Rangers, though he could see some sporadic fourth-line work.

Boyle netted 31 goals in the AHL last season and got a short callup with the Kings, scoring four goals in just eight games. It's hard to envision him cracking the Kings' top six forwards so the team may decide to send him back to the AHL to log 20 minutes a game instead of logging third or fourth line minutes for the Kings. He's got some offensive upside if he can land himself a prominent role on the Kings.

Boyle is listed as a center, but the Kings are toying with the idea of moving him to defense where the team is not as stacked. Coming out of Boston College last season, he skated during Manchester’s playoff run.

With his excellent size, 6'7" 222 lbs., Boyle may get a look at camp, but another year so he can bulk up wouldn't be surprising. He either play in college or with the Manchester Monarchs for most of the season.

He is no where near the Kings radar right now because he needs a few more years to develop. Look for him around the 2007-08 season.